This is absolutely NOT recommended and could cause serious problems. Creating multiple FSA IDs or submitting multiple FAFSAs is flagged in the system and can trigger a fraud investigation. Always work through the official correction process.

Great news! Glad you got it resolved. When the correction processes, your school should receive the updated information automatically, but I'd still follow up with your financial aid office in about a week to make sure they have the correct SAI calculation.

Will do! They told me the corrected SAI should be available within 5 days after the processing completes. Fingers crossed this doesn't affect my aid package too much!

That's really helpful too! I'll start gathering all that information now so we're prepared. Is there a checklist somewhere of everything we'll need?

Yes, studentaid.gov has a checklist under "Applying for Aid" section. You'll need 2023 tax returns, W-2s, current bank statements, investment records (except retirement accounts), and records of untaxed income. The new FAFSA directly imports tax data from the IRS if you consent, which simplifies things considerably.

Oh no, that sounds awful! I'm getting more nervous now. I hope they've fixed some of those issues for this year's application!

The Federal Student Aid office has actually made several system improvements for the 2025-26 cycle based on feedback from last year's problems. They've expanded server capacity and simplified some of the more problematic sections. While no system is perfect, there should be fewer technical glitches this time around.

You're correct that merit scholarships are primarily based on academic achievements, not financial need. They're awarded regardless of your SAI. But when schools calculate your total financial aid package, they may factor in merit scholarships you've received when determining how much need-based aid to provide. That's what creates the confusion for many families.

That's exactly why these forums are so helpful! Each school has their own policies that aren't always clear from their websites. Great job being proactive and calling them directly. When you get all your aid packages, you might want to try negotiating with your top choice if another school offered better terms.

Unfortunately, that's correct. Federal student aid (including Pell Grants) can only be used at eligible institutions, and very few foreign universities participate in the Federal Student Aid program. The FAFSA site does mention this in their FAQ section, but it's not prominently featured in the application process itself. I'd recommend: 1. Check if her specific UK university is on the Federal School Code List (unlikely but possible) 2. Look into private loans designed for international study 3. Research UK-specific scholarships for international students 4. Contact the international student office at her chosen university for funding options Sorry you're just finding this out now. It's a common point of confusion.

Deep breath! This is manageable. Here's what you need to know: 1. Submit one FAFSA per student (one for each twin) 2. Canadian schools generally don't use FAFSA (they have their own financial aid systems) 3. On each FAFSA, list all the US schools they're applying to 4. If one twin attends a US school and one attends a Canadian school, it won't affect each other's aid The twin attending a US school can use their FAFSA for federal aid. The twin attending a Canadian school likely can't use federal aid unless their specific Canadian institution participates in the US federal aid program (very few do). I recommend contacting each Canadian school directly to ask about their financial aid process for US students.